Video: direct democracy comes to Harlem

Last October, New York City residents took part in a historic new experiment in direct democracy. Over a six-month period, ordinary citizens young and old were given the unusual power to decide how millions of their city districts’ budgets were spent.

We follow two newcomers to civic engagement — Stefan Poaches, a 27-year-old assistant college basketball coach, and 30-year-old clerical worker Ashante Blue — as they make their way through this novel experience in government participation.